Hester's 11th Inning Single Gives Aces 6-4 Win At Fresno

FRESNO, Calif.—John Hester slapped a two-run single through the box in the 11th inning, unlocking a tie ballgame and lifting the Reno Aces to a 6-4 extra-inning victory over the Fresno Grizzlies Sunday night at Chukchansi Park.

With two on and two out in the 11th inning, Hester came to the plate and singled sharply up the middle to give the Aces a 6-4 lead. Reliever TJ Beam silenced Fresno in the home half of the 11th and preserved the victory for Reno.

The Aces led 2-1 for most of the game until back-to-back Fresno home runs in the seventh inning gave the Grizzlies a 3-2 lead. In the eighth inning, though, Hester hit a two-out single and Brandon Allen followed with a two-run homer to centerfield that pushed Reno back on top, 4-3.

In the ninth inning, though, Fresno would claw back. Ben Copeland rapped a run-scoring triple to right, tying the score at four apiece and sending the game into extra innings. Both teams went silent in the 10th, setting-up Hester’s heroics in the 11th.

Aces starter Matt Torra did not figure into the decision, but was dominant for much of the evening, scattering three runs—two earned—on five hits over 7.2 innings of work. He struck out three and did not issue a base on balls. Beam (2-2) earned the victory, keeping Fresno off the scoreboard over the game’s final two innings.

Fresno starter Madison Bumgarner did not figure into the decision, despite holding the Aces to three runs with 11 strikeouts over 7.2 frames. The loss fell to reliever Brandon Medders (0-1), who surrendered Hester’s go-ahead single in the 11th.

The Aces and Grizzlies wrap-up the four-game set on Monday night from Chukchansi Park. RHP Wes Roemer (1-3, 4.82 ERA) gets the nod for Reno, while Fresno is set to counter with LHP Matt Yourkin (4-2, 4.57 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. PT, and the action can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1450 AM or online at www.RenoAces.com.

The Aces return home on June 22 for a four-game set with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Tickets for all Aces games start at just $7, and are available by calling the Reno Aces box office at (775) 334-7000 or by visiting RenoAces.com. The brand-new Freight House District, located just outside Aces Ballpark, is open seven days a week, on both game days and non-game days.

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